Thermosetting lens cement



Patented July 20, 1948.

s PAT NT orrlcs' THERMOSETTING LENS CEMENT William F. Parsons, Cambridge, Mass., and John B. Dann, Rochester, N. Y., asslgnorl to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation .12 New Jersey No Drawing. Original application March 19,

1945, Serial No. 583,646. Divided and this application May 16, 1947, Serial No, 748,668

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a thermosetting lens cement and to a process for preparing the cement. This application is a division of our copending application SerialNo. 583,646, filed'March 19, 1945.

For cementing together the elements of glass lenses, especially those used in aerial optical instruments and those used in extremely cold or hot climates, it is desirable to have a colorless or nearly colorless cement which will adhere permanently to the glass, have considerable strength, and withstand any extremes of heat and cold which are likely to be encountered in use, Canada balsam'has been used extensively as a lens cement, but suflers from the disadvantage that it does not withstand the extremes of temperature.

There has been found a lens cement which does withstand the extremes of temperature encoun- .tered in use much better than Canada balsam.

acid. However, while this new lens cement is superior to Canada balsam, it is nevertheless a thermoplastic lens cement and exhibits two disadvantages in practice.

First, in the'preparation of lenses of very high quality, such as objective and erector lenses, it was found that the aforesaid thermoplastic lens sequently deteriorated. In many cases, the del but it is time consuming and requires precise cement, although stable at 160 F., softened Just enough at about this temperature to allow of plastic fiow. While mounted lenses are held firmly enough in their mounts that there is little danger of lateral displacement of the lens elements cemented with the aforesaid thermoplastic cement, it was found that the lenses did sometimes, at elevated temperatures, develop other optical defects, such as astigmatism and poor definition. The reason for this is that minute irregularities in the mount used to hold the lens firmly in position caused uneven pressure to be exerted on the lens. At ordinary temperatures the lens and cement had sufilcient mechanicalstrength to resist-these uneven forces, providing they were not unduly great. However, at about F., the thermoplastic cement softened slightly and tended to fiow away from the high pressure area. The lens surface was thus slightly warped and the optical quality of the lens con-. llsurface of a lens element a thermosetting resin terioration makes the lens unsuitable for optical use, especially in objective and erector lenses which must form accurate images of objects.

Second, in cementing lens elements with thermoplastic lens cements, the lens element is heated to a temperature considerably above the melting point of the cement, so that the viscosity of the cement will be suificiently low on contact with the lens element to facilitate its use. The cement is then'melted onto one element of the lens, the other element placed in position and the union completed by pressing out air bubbles and excess cement. This process usually requires a temperature of between 300 and 350 F. The lens is then allowed to cool until the cement begins to harden. Then the elements are aligned by me chanical or optical means. Frequently in this aligning operation, the cooling cannot be satisfactorily controlled. The outer portion cools more rapidly than the inner, or points of the lens in contact with metal truing mechanisms conduct the heat away causing the cement to harden more quickly in one portion of the lens than in another. This has the effect ofslightly warping the lens and leaving it under strain. Theresulting strain must be removed by annealing the cemented lens to insure permanently good optical quality, and also to insure that the cement layer which is under strain does not become defective in subsequent field use. A defect of this nature may manifest itself as a fem-shaped cement start. The annealing operation prevents this,

technique to avoid excessive rejects.

We have now found a new'process for cementing together the elements of lens with a thermosetting lens cement in which many of the aforesaid difilculties encountered with thermoplastic lens cements are obviated. Moreover, by means of our new process, we have produced lenses which withstand the extremes of temperature paring the same. It is, accordingly, an object of our invention to provide a new process for cementing together the elements of lenses. A further object is to provide lenses which withstand the extremes of temperature. A further object is to provide a new thermosetting lens cement and a process for preparing the same. Other objects will become apparent hereinafter.

In accordance with our new process, we cement the elements of-lenses together by applying to a in a partially polymerized, gelatinous condition. Then we apply to the suriace so treated a second lens element, work out the excess cement between the two surfaces. true the lens by mechanical or optical means at ordinary temperatures (not greater than 100'F.)' and then heat the trued lens until the thermosetting resin sets. In this process no heating is required until the lens is trued and the process is especially well adapted to large scale production of highly precise optics.

The lenses obtained by our new process withstand the extremes of temperature very satisfactorily and retainexcellent optical quality under all conditions usually encountered in the field. Owing to the fact that the lenses are trued at ordinary temperatures while the cement is still soft, no warping or straining is introduced usualhi, or if it is, it is all relieved by the time the lens is heated to set the cement.

The thermosetting cement employed should be partially polymerized and in the gel state so that it is soit enough to work, but stiff enough to hold the lens elements firmly in position when the lens is in optical true. The thermosetting cement employed should be one that undergoes a minimum of shrinking upon setting and should be substantially transparent.

We have found a thermosetting cement which is admirably suited to our new process. Our new thermosetting lens cement comprises the partial polymerization product of a mixture of:

ing the single CH2=C group is an a-methacrylic ester of a monohydric alcohol containing from one to four carbon atoms, 1. e., methyl, ethyl,

n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl or tertiary butyl e-methacrylate, especially nbutyl e-methacrylate. Vinyl acetate, propionate or butyrates are exemplary of the vinyl carboxylic esters. Methyl, ethyl, n-propyland n-butyl acrylates are exemplary of the acrylates. Styrene is exemplary of the vinylbenzenes.

' Divinylbenzene is preferred to either acrylic or an a-alkacrylic anhydride. Among the a-alkacrylic anhydrides, those in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 2 carbon atoms are preferred, i. e., a-methacrylic and a-ethacrylic anhydride.

' Among the dialkyl and di-2-alkalkyl compounds,

the his allyl and 2-alkallyl carbonates of diethylene glycol and triethylene glycol are exemplary. The bis allyl or 2-alkallyl carbonate of diethylene glycol is advantageously employed. Among the 2-alkallyl compounds those in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 2. carbon atoms are preferred, 1. e., the 2-methallyl and 2-ethallyl compounds. The cement is prepared by partially polymerizing a mixture of the above three components. The polymerization'is accelerated by heating and is advantageously carried out in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, e. g., a peroxide polymerization catalyst. Organic peroxides, such as benzoyl peroxide, acetyl peroxide or lauroyl peroxide, are especially useful. Inorganic peroxides, such as alkali metal persuliates,

can be used.- The polymerization .is advantligeously carried out in an atmosphere tree from undesirable contaminants, such as sulfur compounds. Any such atmosphere can be employed, e. g., air. carbon dioxide or nitrogen.

Advantageously, the organic' compound containing a single CH==C group and the diallyl compound (or the di-2-alkallyl compound) are employed in a weight ratio of from 8:2 to 2:8.

' tageously from about 0.25 per cent to about 6 per cent of the weight oi the organic compounds containing a single CHz=C group. Most advantageously. the quantity of the divinylbenzene. acrylic anhydride or e-alkacrylic anhydride is equal to from about 1 per cent to about 3 per cent of the weight of the organic compound containing a single CH2=C group.

The following examples will serve to illustrate 7 further the manner of practicing our invention:

Esample 1 n-Butyl e-methacrylate and the his allyl carbonate of diethylene glycol were mixed inv 1:1 proportions by weight. To the mixture was added benzoyl peroxide in an amount equal to 3 per cent by weight of the mixture. The resulting about 75 per cent by weight of divinylbenzene and 25 per cent of ethylvinylbenzene.) The divinylbenzene present was equal to about 2.5 per cent by weight of the n-butyl-a-methacrylate. The' mixture thus prepared was then placed in 20 x 75 mm. glass vials, the air expelled from the vials by means of a jet of carbon dioxide and the vials stoppered with an atmosphere of carbon dioxide over the mixture. The stoppered vials were then placed in a constant temperature bath at C. for 16 minutes. At the end of.this time, vials were removed from the 70 bath and cooled to stop further polymerization. The material in the vial was a soft gelatinous material which was ready for the cementing of lenses.

' Example 2 Sample 3 A cement was prepared exactly as in Example 1, except that 3 parts of n-butyl-a-methacrylate for each part of the his allyl carbonate of dietliylene glycol were employed. The divinylbenaene present was equal weight oi the n-butyl -a-methacrylate.

'methacrylate.

s to about 1.6

Example 4 A cement was prepared exactly as in Example 1. except that 'a-methacrylic anhydride in an amount equal to 1 per cent oi the volume of the mixture was employed instead of a mixture of 'divinylbenzene and ethyl vinylbenzene. The amethacrylic anhydride employed was equal to about 2.2 percent by weight of the n-butyl-a- In any of the toregoing'examples, the n-butyl a-methacrylate can be replaced withmethyl, ethyl, or n-propyl, a-methacrylate; or with styrene, vinyl acetate or methyl acrylate, for example. Instead of using just one compound containing a single CH2=C group, two or more of such compounds can be employed. Likewise, one or more of the his allyl (or bis-2-alkallyl) compounds can be employed and one or more oi the groups of divinylbenzene, acrylic anhydride and c-alkacrylic anhydride can be employed.

Various temperatures of polymerization can be employed and various polymerization catalysts can be employed. However, we have found that the polymerization is advantageously effected at from about 60 to about 80 C. in the presence 01' an organic peroxide polymerization catalyst, e. g., benzoyl peroxide or lauroyl peroxide.

per cent by v Statesis:

be secured 'single CH==O group and selected from the group consisting of -methacrylic esters o! Our new cements, particularly the cement 01' I Example 1, have been found to be heat resistant to the degree that several types of optics can be cemented and then coated with a hard nonreflecting coating, after the cementing operation. This is a great advantage since'it eliminates the danger of marring or otherwise spoiling coated objects during the cementing operation. The hard coating necessitates the use of high temperatures or very high vacuum, the temperatures rising to 390 F. or higher at a vacum of 0.5 micron or less. Our new cements withstand these severe conditions.

Employing our new cements, lenses containing 3 or more components can be cemented by the same procedure used on cemented doublets.

' Thus, two components can be joined, trued and then heated to set the cement. The third component can then be cemented to the doublet,

trued and heated to set the cement with no fear of harming the bond already accomplished in the doublet. This procedure may be repeated as many times as there are components to cement. With thermoplastic cements on the other hand, the cementing of three or more lenses together is difllcult and expensive, because complicated truing procedures or truing fixtures are required. Also by means of our new cements, prism clusters can be cemented all in one operation, our new cements serving to hold the prism'in the proper position after optical alignment.

Thebis allyl and his 2-alkallyl carbonates of diethylene glycol and triethylene glycol can be prepared by condensing allyl or 2-alkallyl chlorocarbonates with diethylene glycol or triethylene glycol, if desired, in the presence of an acidbinding agent, for example pyridine. The'resulting condensation mixture is washed with water and then distilled under reduced pressureto obtain the his allyl or his 2-alkallyl compounds: Allyl and 2-alkallyl chlorocarbonates can be prepared by the action of allyl or'a 2-alkallyl alcohol on an excess of phosgene in benzene in the cold.

1 partially polymerized mixture of saturated monohydric alcohols containing from 1 to ,4 carbonv atoms, acrylic esters of saturated monohydric alcohols containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, vinyl esters of saturated monocarboxylic acids containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms and styrene, from 8 to 2 parts by weight of an organic compound selected from the group consisting of the his allyl carbonate oi' diethylene glycol, the his allyl carbonate of triethylene glycol, the bis 2-alkallyl carbonates oi diethylene glycol in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 2 carbon atoms and the his 2-alkallyl carbo nates o1 triethylene glycol in which the alkyl group contains from i-to 2 carbon atoms, and from 0.25 per cent to 6 per cent oi. the'weight at the organic compound containing the single CH2=C group of a compound selected from the group consisting of acrylic anhydride and .aalkacrylic anhydrides in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 2 carbon atoms.

2. A thermosetting lens cement comprising a partially polymerized mixture of from 2 to 8 parts by "weight of an ester of a-methacrylic acid and a saturated monohydric alcohol containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, from 8 to 2 parts by weight of the his allyl. carbonate of diethylene glycol, and from 0.25 to 6 per cent by weight of the methacrylic ester 01' a compound selected from the group consisting of acrylic anhydride and aalkacrylic anhydrides in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 2 carbon atoms.

'3. A thermosetting lens cement comprising a in which the alkyl group contains from 1 'to 2 carbon atoms.

4. A thermosetting lens cement comprising a equal parts by weight of n-butyl-a-methacrvlate and the bis allyl carbonate of diethylene glycol, and from 1 to 3 per cent of the weight of the n-butyl-amethacrylate oi! a compound selected from the group consisting of acrylic anhydride and aallracrylic anhydrides in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 2 carbon atoms.

5. A thermosetting lens cement comprising a partially polymerized mixture of equal parts by weight or n-butyl-a-methacrylate and the bis ,allyl carbonate of diethylene glycol, and from 0.25 percent to 6 per cent of the weight or the n-butyl c-methacrylate of a-methacrylic anhydride.

6. A thermosetting lens cement comprising a partially polymerized mixture of equal parts by weight of n-butyl a-methacrylate and the his alLvl carbonate of diethylene glycol, and from 1 to 8 per cent of the weight or the n-butyl a-methacryiate oi a-methacrylic anhydride.

7. A thermosetting lens cement comprising a partially polymerized mixture oi equal parts by weight or n-butyl-a-methacrylate and the his ailyl carbonate oi diethylene glycol, and from 0.25 A

by Letters Patent of, the :United I amuse to 8 per cent of the weight of the Il-biitYl-amethacrylate of acrylic anhydride.

2. A process for preparing a thermosetting lens cement comprising partially polymerizing a mixture of from 2 to 8 parts by weight oi. an organic compound containing a single CH2=C group and selected from the group consisting oi u-methacrylic esters oi saturated monohydric alcohols containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. acrylic esters of saturated monohydric alcohols containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, vinyl esters of saturated monocarboxylic acids containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms and styrene, from 8 to 2 parts'by weight group consisting, of acrylic anhydride and aalkacrylic anhydrides in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 2 carbon atoms.

9. A process for preparing a thermosetting lens cement comprising partially polymerizinmiin an atmosphere otcarbon dioxide. a mixture of from 2 to 8 parts by weight of an organic com (1 containing a single CH2==C group and se ected from the group consisting of a-methacrylic esters of saturated monohydric alcohols containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. acrylic esters of saturated monohydric alcohols containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, vinyl esters of saturated monocarboxylic acids containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms and styrene. from 8 to 2 parts by weight of an organic compound selected from the group consisting of the his allyl carbonate 0! diethylene glycol., the bis 2-alkaliyl carbonates of diethylene glycol in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 2 carbon atoms and the bis 2-alkallyl carbonates or triethylene glycol in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 2 carbon atoms, and from 0.25 per cent to 6 per cent of the weight 0! the organic compound containing the single CH:=C group of a compound selected from the group consisting of, acrylic anhydride and a- CH1=C group 0! a compound selected from the alkacrylic anhydrides in which the alkyl group contains from. i to 2 carbon atoms:

WILLIAM F. masons. JOHN R. DANN. 

